Blow out at 95 MPH

[TomNauntonMorgan]

Happened near Stonehenge, A303, last Saturday week. A big hole that could not be plugged with the goo therefore the tyre could not be inflated. RAC does not provide a low loader so they contract to a third party, using Porsche assistance. Over two hours later a suitable transporter arrived to take me back to London.
To compound the drama no tyres for the rear of my 987 could be found in London.
My point is: why is there no space saver as on the prevoius Boxster? Obviously weight and space are the answers, but what about the stress factor?

Porsche could not supply a tyre and there was not conversion available to put in a space saver or jack!! I was told that none of their new cars had space savers

I am still awaiting a tyre to come from Germany ten days later!!

This is my second puncture in six months and there was no real problem with the first one in London, but out in the country it is a different matter. Looks like I will have to get Maserati as it Does have a space saver.

Have I just been unlucky or is this a real problem?


Tom

 

[RSGulp]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing...

...if this ever happens again in that area get the lowloader to take you to Micheldever Tyres at Micheldever Station just off the A303 east of Andover. They are well known in 'petrolhead' circles as supplying great service, all makes and sizes of tyres at very competitive prices and are very careful to look after your expensive alloys. I'm surprised your RAC man didn't know about them.

http://www.micheldever.co.uk/

Cheers,
Rich

 

[Black80XSA]

Sorry to hear the news Tom - 18 or 19s ??


I know the Mich 18s are in very short supply, due to a fire at the Michelin factory a few motnhs ago - also they are only made in batches on an infrequent basis.

I had a puncture in one of my 19s a few months ago, but was able to drive to my local tyre depot for a temporary repair until a new tyre arrived the next day. I've recently started to ring around for a set of rears; they aren't exactly widespread but i haven't found anywhere that can't source them at less than 2 days notice, thank goodness !

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: toptastictom

My point is: why is there no space saver as on the prevoius Boxster? Obviously weight and space are the answers, but what about the stress factor?
Tom

What is really annoying.com in certain sensible markets the law requires a spare tyre and for these markets Porsche willingly obliges. I think it was just a brilliant way / excuse to supply a cheap can of goo costing probably £5.00 and save on the costs of a space saver, jack, wheel brace etc
multiply that saving by say 100,000 + units per anum and its no wonder they are the most profitable car maker in the world today [&o]

Sod the customer and his stress levels when a tyre goes bang! And as for weight / space saving marketing spin

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: daro911

What is really annoying.com in certain sensible markets the law requires a spare tyre and for these markets Porsche willingly obliges.

Is there still a space in UK Boxsters to carry a space saver spare? I think if it were my car I would buy a space saver off my own back. I would not like to be stuck somewhere with no spare and no chance of getting one for a number of days []

 

[marlin]

See Decembers EVO Editorial they had a GT3 which is not on the cover shoot because of a puncture . It took 30 hours to get a tyre and that was with the Porsche Press Office and UK Porsche plus others trying to pull strings to get the car back on the road for the Car of the year 2006 thingy.

The dealer sold me tyre insurance which was used in the first month, pity the other dealers did not know how to action the insurance. Took 5 hours to sort and a serious taking down of pants at the end ie: £336 for a tyre (19') the insurance cover is up to £250. Did get a refund of difference from dealer after pointing out how disappointed I was with the price and a marked wheel.

It's not only Porsche that have tyre problems, a puncture in Mull (Inner Hebrides) with a Mini run flat took 2 days out of our holiday, but we could limp about on the run flat, they call this progress!!!!!!!![]

 

[David W.]

When I bougth the Boxster I asked my tyre guy about availability and he had a front in stock and said he'd get a rear in stock for me which is fine if I don't stray far from home [], why can't the roadside guys pop a tube in as a limp home slowly measure?
DW

 

[TomNauntonMorgan]

19s

I phoned a very good friend at Porsche Reading who looked into this for me. I could buy a space saver and jack but they could not supply any method of fixing it.

I should be very interested to know which markets insist on a space saver, then I could contact Reading again

Tom

 

[TomNauntonMorgan]

Hi Paul

Not heard from you since I sold my 300 BHP 944 Turbo, which then got totalled by an ex SAS officer. A personal friend!!

There is space for a space saver as the previous model had one. There IS NO space to put the damaged tyre except the passenger seat!!!

This is a very good reason to get an 911

Tom

 

[nigelt]

I think there is space in the front companrtment for a slim space saver wheel - the problem is - how am I going to carry my 19" 265 to the garage when i've changed the wheel! Would have to be a case of kicking my passenger out and putting it on the fromt seat. Porsche are obviously working on the fact that the wheel is worth more than the passesnger - and how true that is??!![]

 

[Mark_Bennett]

I understood the rear 19" wheel wouldn't go in the front trunk (even with a deflated tyre), and that that was a reason for not having the spacesaver spare.

I do recall a phot at about the time of the 987 launch which showed a 986-style spare in the front of onje car - but this must have been for certain markets only (as Daro911 says) and that would be limited to max 18" wheels.

 

[Black80XSA]

The 19s will not fit in the front boot, neither will the 17s or 18s as the storage compartments prevent you achieveing any degree of slant on the wheel - passenger seat is the only place it will fit. There is a very long thread on the 997 board of rennteam.com, detailing all the options, part numbers and costs for a collapsible spare wheel that will fit in the front boot. The space saver from the 986/996 will fit on an angle in the front boot too, but you have lost most of the storage space

rear wheel in front boot..

and a new tyre on the passenger seat..

 

[Mark_Bennett]

So.... The storage box area takes up the space that the spare in the 986 was then (the boot really isn't any bigger)?

What was the point of boxing all that in then? [&:]

At least the 986 owner can increase the luggage space and run without a spare by taking the spare out, and sliding the retaining bolt sideways out of it's slot. Instantly bigger boot.

Isn't progress wonderfull? []

Edited for absolutely atrocious spelling - I was about to leave work you see...[8|]

 

[Black80XSA]

I quite agree Mark, i'd rather ditch the smart looking plastic for a more practical space.

Then again its surprising what you can store in the boxed areas (first aid kit, zymol valleting kit and 10 cloths, tyre pressure gauge, fluorescent vest..... )

 

[Popolou]

A chap on the Boxa.net forum looked into this after wondering what would happen if the worst occured and he discovered that the 996 space saver woulf fit easily within its protective bag in the front boot and just clears the calipers all round.

Apparently, Porsche did indeed develop a space saver for the 9x7 cars however is only available as an aftersales purschase and costs IIRC silly money.

Considering that the PSM/ABS systems will throw a fit if it detects any irregularities, apparently they have a 5% threshold tolerance in rotational speeds meaning the 996 space saver will work.

For those interested to follow this up, here is the link to the (long) thread.

Regards

Popolou

 

[Tool Pants]

Yankee ingenuity....

 

[Dapster]

ORIGINAL: Tool Pants

Yankee ingenuity....

On the 987 you'd get a "Bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong....." sound and "Rear lid not closed!!" warning from the on-board nanny.

I'm suprised that the PASM doesn't have some clever "puncture" setting to let the car make it home on 3 wheels like the old Citroen DS's of the 60's and 70's!!